Mt. Shirah Mountain Precipice

Who dared to bring profanities near the masjid?!!!

The boys came out to see a most magnificent scene before their eyes.

Right there, outside Masjidur-Rahmân, on Mt. Shirah precipice, a youth was seated against the red of sunset, his long black hair carried by the wind.

Wearing a peony-flowered yukata, the obviously Asian youth exuded an air of refinery about him, and yet, Ukashah could feel a sharp aura coming from him -

one that he'd felt before..

The boy had a zither of finely polished wood spread before him, and he was playing from the instrument such melody as would enthrall the listeners.

He seemed oblivious of them as the boys gathered close to him, by the mountain's edge.

He had his eyes lowered on the instrument, his slender fingers gently strumming the strings, his innocent and comely face, glowing with a smile.

It seemed he would never end. Beauty and art seemed personified in this person, and it seemed he could go anywhere, and be honoured by all, the Kings and the peasants alike.

Ukashah and Zak stood a little farther from the group, their hands folded in obvious detachment. It seemed they were really unaffected by the music that flowed. They were what you'd consider as sangfroid though.

Who was this boy, obviously non- Muslim who had wandered into their masjid surrounding, and decided to test their patience? After all, music was something unacceptable and prohibited, especially when he'd the gall to approach the masjid territory to play.

The boy continued for a while, not minding anyone among the group that had gathered before him. Also, the boys didn't know how to approach him to shoo him off the masjid area.

They really didn't mind if he was just passing by, or sightseeing. But simply coming to lodge here, - a sacred place of divine meditations, and decide to play your mundane tunes here, it was simply testing the patience of the worshippers!

Apparently, unable to take it anymore, Zak approached him by the side, and - tapped him on the shoulder.

"Little brother, we hope you've not lost your way, and need some help.." Zak began, but when the boy suddenly stilled the strings gently with his thin long digits and looked up, Zak was caught aback for a moment. Those eyes...

The boy smiled, without a word.

"You see,"Zak continued, regaining his composure,"It's part of our religious ways to avoid such instruments and profane tunes, in seeking that which is holy, and accepted by God."

"Seeking that which is holy...,"the boy echoed after Zak, his eyes lost in thought for a brief moment, as if searching for the profundity hidden within the words.

"Everyone has that by which he can seek happiness and peace of heart in this world,"the boy began,"The farmers by their fields,

The dancers by their stage performance,

The writers by their fantasies,

The hunters by the rush felt in game-chasing,

Even the dreamers by their daily dreaminess and stargazing..

What's the difference between the common people seeking entertainment in their usual ways though worldly, and the monks reciting holy sutras to achieve a state of nirvana?"

[Note here, he likens the students of 'Inabah to monks seeking enlightenment. Obviously, in his culture, the holy people as he sees this group, meditate to attain a state of transcendence.]

"Don't get me wrong, brother, but our way of life has its own set of rules and regulations by which we can attain the pinnacle of human living.

As part of our teachings, rather than focus on such instruments of worldly ardour, and pastimes, we've been given the Recitation, by it we can achieve the state of peace of heart."

"Hmn."The boy nodded."Interesting, to each to his own way, the farmer to his sickle, the hunter to his bow. Let's go our ways, and find our own peace. Disturb not one another, nor stop the other in his pursuit of happiness. Live life as neighbours. Share the world with others."

Fatuous! Ukashah was about to go forward when Arkaan held him back by his shoulders, giving a weary smile.

"Let Zak handle this." He mouthed. Obviously, between the two Quraa', even though Ukashah had a commanding personality, Zak with the more outgoing personality, was more suited in dealing with such situations.

Zak scratched his chin. This guy was proving stubborn.

Seems he doesn't really get my point. Maybe I should just straight ahead tell him that he's distracting the worshippers, and that's not 'living in peace' when the world is spacious enough to find your own niche and avoid bothering others.

But why does it feel so difficult chiding this child - could it be because of their uncanny resemblance to each other. He suddenly remembered the only boy in their former halaqah who attained the title of 'Al-Awwâb'(The penitent Turner to Allah) from Al-Iskandarī himself.

As if reading his mind, the boy bluntly stated, his eyes down,"I like it here. The sunset at dusk is just - different, ethereal.. "

Zak wanted to say something more, when Arkaan caught in, a smile on his face,"Say, if one of us were to defeat you in a contest of who has the nicest symphony, would you leave this place?

Having been proved inferior, it's only right if you'd retreat from here per our request.

The stars disappear in the glory of the midday's sun after all."

At this, the boy's lips turned up in an enthusiastic smile,"This is certainly interesting."

He suddenly got up, brandishing his wide sleeves in their faces,"Nay! Not one of you, I'll accept the challenge even if all of you were to face me!

How about this? If you defeat me in such a contest, I'll give up my instrument to learn under you your art of melody and seeking inner peace and happiness." He smiled an enigmatic smile.

"Preposterous!" Ukashah voiced.

"Sure!" Arkaan said, a light glowing in his eyes, like heavenly fires had been lit.

"Arkaan," Zak called Arkaan aside,"Comparison of the Qur'an against worldly instruments like this,.. does not just feel right."

"Don't worry. Take this as a form of dawah. The boy agreed to study in our halaqah after all, as long as we win."

"Agreed to study, not to embrace Islâm!"

"Don't worry, that would come in due time in shaa Allah,"Arkaan smiled.

"What would be the standard of measurement though?"Zak voiced after considering a while, concerned.

Arkaan smiled. Let the boy decide for himself."And here I was, praising the Five Quraa of Tâ Hâ. Don't you trust your own recitation? The Qur'an is a Divine Book, by no way would it be placed below any other words or tunes for that matter!"

As they continued whispering, Ukashah caught in,"Wa kalimatullahi hiyal ulyaa(and the Word of Allah is the highest).." putting his hand assuringly on Zak's shoulder, having just appeared behind him.

Zak smiled wearily. Since today he had seen a whole new side of Ukashah he would have never thought existed. It was like, as long as they could recruit as many members, it didn't care what methods were used, from coercion to blackmail, to even unfair challenges..

Where's the real Ukashah gone to? - The one who was stainless and refined like jade, without any ulterior motives and underhanded methods?..He sighed in consent.

By the next moment, the gathered group of boys of different ages, and different reasons why they were there, made a wide Circle, with the participants in the very middle. Zak and the Asian boy sat on a spread carpet, both cross-legged.

The boy had his zither placed in front of him, as he gently began playing..

The sounds seemed like they came from the very heavens themselves,

It seemed as if every piece of melody had been woven into just that masterpiece of the boy,

The birds of Mt. Shirah flocked down, whilst others made great sky circles seemingly attempting to draw the attention of all lovers of beautiful things,

The red sun seemed to have paused for a second in its journey, as if to witness the great play,

As Arkaan listened to the tunes, what came to his mind was of flowers and all nature's beauty, songs and melodies of the world's greatest composers. He was seemingly lost himself in a dreamlike world, where all fantasies could become realities. It seemed like after listening to this composure, even if he were to die right now, he'd have no regrets in life.

He looked at the other boys, and saw they were caught up in the same. From Rafik to Abdullah to Humayd.., not a single one of them was left unmoved by the guy's play..

It was there that he noticed the two, - Zak and Ukashah had their eyes closed all this while. He knew they didn't accept to listening to music. Though they didn't explain why, Arkaan knew there was probably a religious significance. Especially after what Zak said about it being part of our religious ways to avoid such instruments and profane tunes.

It was until the boy gently held the strings in place, stilling the music into a calm conclusion and yet, both Quraa' had not opened their eyes, then, Arkaan knew something was wrong somewhere.

"Ehmm Zak.. Ukashah.."

Seeing that they were not budging, he went and tapped them on their shoulders. Zak opened one eye to peek, Ukashah yawned.

When they both realized the guy had long since finished and all eyes were on them waiting for their own performance, the two Quraa' removed from their ears a set of ear plugs.

Arkaan opened his mouth agape.

"Don't tell me you guys didn't listen to the composition of your very opponent?!!" He really didn't know whether to cry or to laugh. He never knew there was such a farcical side to the two Quraa'. Maybe in his mind, he expected them to be more.. - serious??

"Okay, I guess it's my turn." Obviously, Zak and Ukashah decided Zak would stand. It'd be overdoing it, if both Quraa' stood to compete, especially when it was absurd to compete with a musician in the first place.

The Asian guy gave a light bow of his head, with a gentle smile on his face. From all points, it seemed he didn't really bother about they not listening to his play, and yet claiming to compete with him. To any musician, being appreciated for your art was a sign of honouring you. When people decline to even hear your play, it was obvious and utter disregard!

But instead of being angry, the boy just calmly smiled,"Elder brothers, please instruct me in something of what you've learnt of melodies and its essence.. "

Zak cleared his throat nosily, obviously feeling a little guilty for treating the boy in that way. But to Zak and Ukashah, there was no compromise in such things. It seemed they'd have to teach their halaqah members this too.. soon enough.

After all, they were just like them before..and everything changed with the tutorship of their Scholar.

"A'uudhu billahi minash Shaytânir-Rajīm.."A rich baritone voice suddenly rang in the dusk air, seemingly resonating with all of nature's call.

This voice!!

Ukashah's pupils turned to slits. Could he have manage to perfectly mimic his voice..